Customer Reviews

AT sticks to its guns on tourism forecasts

Tourism
Authority of Thailand told the private sector, yesterday, it is keeping
faith with itsÂ 2010 target of 14 million arrivals and 90 million
domestic trips generating a revenue of Bt960 billion.

It made
the announcement at its marketing plan presentation to the travel
industry, yesterday afternoon at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre.

The agency projects an increase of 5.6% in 2010 over this yearâ€'s arrivals which it claims will reach 13.2 million.

Most
private sector executives were cynical claiming the estimates were
based on inaccurate research and failed to recognise that tourist
arrivals this year could fall to 11 or 12 million visitors.

They
blame the inaccuracies in forecasting on political agendas, the need to
justify bigger budgets and a reckless attitude that places marketing
before the desperate need to renovate,Â redevelop and reposition a
tired travel product.

International tourists are expected to
generated revenue at Bt53 billion, next year, representing a 6.4%
increase in revenue over its Bt49 billion estimate for 2009. Domestic
trips will increase 3.38% with a circulating revenue of Bt430,000
million and representing a 5.5% increase.

TAT acting governor
and deputy governor for administration, Pensuda Priaram, and TAT deputy
governor for policy and planning, Suraphon Svetasreni, outlined a 2010
marketing plan saying the agency would continue to use the â€œAmazing
Thailand Amazing Valueâ€ to reinforce the countryâ€'s position as a
cost-effective destination.

It promised travel executives it
would continue to expand market coverage, in spite of decreasing
arrivals this year. Two new offices will be opened this year in
Kunming, China, and Mumbai, India.

In 2010, it will open an
office in Jakarta, Indonesia. TAT covers 45 to 50 markets through its
overseas offices and representatives.

According to Ms Pensuda,
authority will focus on two potential markets next year â€" South Asia
and the Middle East â€" that have proved more resilient.

The
objective is to draw 823,000 tourists from South Asia, representing a
13% increase and revenue of Bt25 billion, or 15.4% growth. It is also
forecasting 450,000 tourists from the Middle East countries with a
spending of Bt19 billion.

Asia market should grow 3.8% with 6.9 million visitors and bring in a revenue of Bt162 billion.

Europe
should generate 4.7 million visits and a revenue of Bt237 billion.
Tourists from the Americas and Oceania should grow by 4.9 and 4.2%
respectively, with revenue of Bt46 billion and Bt37 billion.

However,
some markets such as East Asia particularly Japan, South Korea, China
and Hong Kong are expected to drop by 14.9% to 6.7 million visitors.
Revenue from this market will fall by 21.7% to Bt156 billion. Africa
will also to plunge by 17% to 90,000 tourists.